SAFETY CULTURE

Safety culture in the maritime industry

After decades of steady safety improvements in the maritime industry, recent years have seen a reversal, with an increasing number of incidents since 2018. This concerning trend is largely attributed to the rapid transformation sweeping the sector driven by decarbonization, digitalization, and evolving geopolitical landscapes. Traditional safety practices are struggling to keep pace, particularly as an ageing global fleet grapples with new fuels, novel technologies, and increasingly complex digital systems. Indeed, DNV's data reveals that machinery damage and failures now account for 60% of incidents, a significant jump from 38% a decade ago, with over half of all casualties in 2024 involving vessels over 20 years old. This underscores an urgent need to strengthen maritime safety culture across the industry.

Why does the safety culture in the maritime industry need to evolve?

Applying existing standards to new technologies simply isn't sufficient. As shipping embraces alternative fuels, autonomous systems, and new operational models, maritime safety culture must evolve in parallel.

This means moving beyond reactive measures to a proactive, holistic approach that anticipates emerging risks rather than merely responding to incidents. Safety must be intrinsically woven into every aspect of maritime operations, from vessel design and operational procedures to leadership practices and robust cybersecurity protocols. By balancing human, organizational, and technological factors, the industry can bridge the emerging safety gap and foster a resilient safety culture fit for the future.

^{Advisory services}

DNV’s advisory services help maritime organizations manage emerging risks and transform their safety culture. Our experts provide support in areas such as risk assessment, technology qualification, alternative fuel adoption, regulatory compliance, and digital resilience planning. These services are designed to help customers navigate complexity and implement practical, future-focused safety solutions into their fleet and daily operations.

^{Maritime Academy}

Preparing maritime professionals for tomorrow’s challenges is a core part of DNV’s mission. Our Maritime Academy offers specialized training amongst others in:

Alternative fuels: Ammonia, hydrogen, and methanol

Cybersecurity: Awareness, incident response, and threat mitigation

Human factors: Safety leadership and behavioural safety

Digital systems: Autonomous operations and smart vessel technologies

These programs equip seafarers and onshore staff with the skills needed to operate safely in a rapidly changing industry.

^{Collaboration is key}

Closing the safety gap requires collective industry effort. DNV actively drives collaboration across shipping through joint industry projects and cross-sector initiatives such as the Maritime Technologies Forum. We also contribute to the development of new safety frameworks for alternative fuels, autonomous vessels, and cybersecurity. By working together, we ensure that safety solutions are practical, tested, and ready for real-world implementation.